Sports
FCT FA Women Football Committee congratulates Naija Ratels for gaining promotion to NWFL
The FCT FA Women Football Committee congratulates the chairman, management and staff, coaches and players of Naija Ratels Football Club of Abuja for their promotion to the elite Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL).
Chairperson of FCT Women Football Committee, Ngozi Nzeh, this morning expressed her happiness saying that she and her executive members are very pleased with their achievement.
According to her, “The Naija Raitels have done great job. They have made us proud, we celebrate them. This is a milestone achievement.”
The Chairperson who was the coach of the defunct FCT Queens, further disclosed that Raitels FC has brought women league back to Abuja.
Her words, “I remember when I was the coach of the FCT Queens FC, people come from all walks of life to support us and the players were very good but unfortunately, the club went underground but today Raitels will be bringing back that memory.”
“I have no doubt in my mind that Naija Raitels will do well with the wonderful supports they have been enjoying from their chairman.
“On behalf of the exco, I want to say a big congratulations and wish you the best in the NWFL. We are confident that you will do well as we assure you of our unflinching support.
“Now that you have gained promotion to the elite division of the Women league, we want you to be focused. This is just the beginning.”We hereby salute your courage. Our prayer is that you go out there and compete with others without fear and fight for the trophy, which we believe you can do and probably qualify for the new CAF Champions League for Women. We are solidly behind you,” the chairperson concluded.
Sports
FCT FA Board Member Urges Grassroots Reform, Hopeful For Super Eagles World Cup Qualification
Legal Practitioner And Administrator Barr Bucknor Threatens To Petition FCT Minister Over Abandoned Stadiums
Despite Nigeria’s precarious position in the race for a spot at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Barrister Babatunde Burknor, a board member of the FCT Football Association (FA), remains hopeful that the Super Eagles can still secure qualification.
Nigeria currently sits third in their qualification group with 11 points from 8 matches, trailing Benin Republic and South Africa, who both lead with 14 points. Yet Burknor, a seasoned football administrator and grassroots sports advocate, believes all is not lost.
In a recent interview made available to BSN Sports, Burknor said: “Nigeria’s qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup may appear almost impossible, but that doesn’t mean it is out of reach. The situation is tough, yes, but looking at the quality of players in our squad, I still believe we can make it.”
He added that unexpected results from other group rivals could work in Nigeria’s favour.
“Football is unpredictable. There is still a chance that South Africa, Benin Republic, or Rwanda could drop points. If we win our remaining two games, we still stand a chance. Sometimes football reflects life where the strong may fall while the seemingly weak stand tall.”
Calls for Grassroots Reform in the FCT
Beyond national team concerns, Burknor also used the opportunity to address the state of sports development in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), urging the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, to take concrete action to revamp local infrastructure.
“We have deep-rooted problems when it comes to grassroots sports. The major issue is a lack of funding and commitment from those charged with driving development at that level,” he said.
Burknor lamented the disappearance of once-thriving youth competitions like the Chairman’s Cup, Principal’s Cup, and Shell Cup, stating that such events played a crucial role in identifying and nurturing young talent.
“It’s disheartening that these programs are no longer active. Development is impossible without facilities, yet we lack even basic training grounds.”
The legal luminary revealed that he personally upgraded the sports facility at a government secondary school in his area to serve as a makeshift training centre, due to the absence of a functioning local stadium.
He is currently drafting a petition to Minister Wike, over abandoned stadiums in FCT, urging a comprehensive audit of officials responsible for sports development across the six Area Councils of the FCT.
Progress in Gwagwalada Football Development
As Vice Chairman of the Gwagwalada Football Council, Burknor highlighted the success of the Gwagwalada Football League, which has become a model for other Area Councils.
“In just two years, we’ve turned the Gwagwalada Football League into a success story. Several players from the league have already secured contracts in Europe. This shows what can be achieved with vision and consistency.”
Barrister Burknor, emphasized that grassroots football holds the key to Nigeria’s long-term football success and must be taken seriously.
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